Originally Posted by mikeef
One more thing: While there is always the chance that something could happen again on a plane, the chances are a lot less likely now that a 9/11-type event would occur (at least from a plane). Not because of the TSA and shoe carnival, but rather, the cockpit doors have been reinforced. In addition, passengers have always been trained not to fight with the hijackers because traditionally, the hijackers were just trying to redirect the plane to another country, not into a building. Can you imagine any group of passengers now ever letting hijackers take control of a plane again?
Mike
Cracks me up how people are just so stubborn to not give TSA any credit whatsoever.
I think there are a number of factors. Cockpit doors and
better-trained flight crew
not passengers are most certainly part of the equation. I do agree that passengers are less likely to be docile and cooperative should terrorists attempt to hijack a plane, but this isn't necessarily a good thing (it isn't a bad thing neither). Amateurs who take matters into their own hands are unpredictable. Things may work out successfully or they may take a horribly tragic turn. Nobody knows. So I wouldn't hang my hat on the reluctance of passengers to remain quiet during a hostage situation as the cure-all; may end up getting more people killed in the end.
I don't know how you can completely discount TSA screening as a factor. Yeah, there are ways to defeat security screening. I know of no security system that is 100% perfect. I spent a lot of time during my military career defeating security systems and recommending ways to improve them. It's a constantly evolving system of measures, countermeasures and counter-countermeasures; it can never remain static. Yeah, TSA could certainly improve its procedures and policies, but to dismiss it entirely isn't intellectually honest. Unless, of course, you just wanted to rub it in. Then by all means, continue on with your discussion.